The over-analysis of left tackle Jonathan Martin

August 6, 2013|By Omar Kelly, Sun Sentinel

DAVIE - Every year Miami Dolphins fans need to find a new whipping boy to take their frustrations out on.

Whether it is Channing Crowder, Gibril Wilson, Ted Ginn Jr., Marc Colombo, Sean Smith or Daniel Thomas, one player must become the target for criticism, if not attacks from the media and the fan base, deserved or not.

This year I'm sensing that player is starting left tackle Jonathan Martin, who has gotten off to a rocky start against Olivier Vernon and Dion Jordan during the first two weeks of practice.

Dolphins fans HEARD about Martin's struggles in practice and expected Jake Long's replacement to struggle in the exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Many even say he struggled during his first-quarter snaps in Sunday night's 24-20 loss. But the truth of the matter is Martin ACTUALLY played well in his 10 snaps, and I've got proof.

Here is a breakdown of every play Martin had against the Cowboys, and at the end of that breakdown I've provided a grade on a scale of 1-5.

Play 1: Martin took Cowboys backup defensive end Kyle Wilbur wide left on a run play to the left, which featured Lamar Miller fumbling. Wilbur wouldn't have been a factor on the run as designed. He did his job, and did it well. Grade: 5

Play 2: Martin washed Wilbur wide left, and had perfect placement of his hands and feet. Ryan Tannehill begins to scramble because the pocket collapses and Martin holds Wilbur's jersey at the end of a 1-yard Tannehill run. Ball should have been thrown to tight end Dustin Keller, but Wilbur isn't a factor on the play. However, Martin did hold his defender. Grade: 2

Play 3: Left side run by Miller that gains 10-yards. Martin washes out defensive tackle Nick Hayden while Mike Pouncey and Richie Incognito turn the corner to open up the running lane for the first down. This is a play Martin's predecessor could have never made. Grade: 4

Play 4: Martin turns Wilbur outside on a right side run by Miller that gains 11-yards. Martin has help on the play from Keller, but his defender is 10-yards away from the play because Wilbur couldn't shed the block. Grade: 5

Play 5: Quick throw to Marvin McNutt that is placed behind the receiver, and gets dropped. The ball is out of Tannehill's hand before Martin even gets into his jab step. But the passing lane is there. Grade: 4

Play 7: Martin releases Wilbur on an intended right side screen pass to Miller, which the right side of Dallas' defense read accurately, forcing Tannehill to throw the ball away. The offense fails to convert the third down. Grade: 1.5

Play 8: Martin pulls to the right and attempts a cut block that Daniel Thomas gains 3-yards on. The play was poorly blocked by the entire offensive line, and Martin missed his intended target. Grade: 2.5

Play 9: Martin washes Wilbur out of a three-step drop play where Tannehill completes a quick pass to Keller that gains 4-yards. Again, his defender isn't a factor on the play. Grade: 5

Play 10: Martin stops Wilbur from hitting Tannehill with a poorly executed kick-step. The pass is completed to Brandon Gibson before his defender touched the quarterback. The Dolphins converted the third down, but Martin's defender was a factor on the play, possibly rushing the throw. Grade: 1.5

On the very next play, Dallas Thomas, Martin's replacement and competition for the starting left tackle spot, allowed a Cowboys defender to blindside Matt Moore, applying a brutal hit.

Thomas, a 2013 third-round pick, would struggle most of the game against Ben Bass and George Selvie, which hints Dolphins fans better get comfortable with Martin protecting their quarterback's blindside.

You want him on that wall! You NEED him on that wall!

Martin, who was the Dolphins' 2012 second-round pick, averaged a grade of 3.5 on his 10 plays. Here's the truth.... Martin hasn't shown that he's an upper echelon left tackle, but he's also not the worst NFL starter out there. And he's clearly the best option at left tackle the Dolphins presently have.

Dolphins fans better learn to appreciate him, and be patient with his development.

My advice: Give Martin the same kind of patience, and tolerance you have for your starting quarterback, who also had a mediocre season as a rookie starter in 2012. The Patience Brigade expects Tannehill to get better with more experience. Why can't Martin?